Diabetes Specialist
-
- Tweet
Wake Family Medicine
Primary Care Physicians & Family Medicine Physicians located in Cary, NC
According to statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 100 million Americans are living with diabetes, although many are unaware they have the disease. For those in Cary, North Carolina, comprehensive diabetes care is available through the services of Mrinalini Kodumagulla, MD, of Wake Family Medicine. If you would like to learn more about diabetes prevention, screening, or treatments, call or schedule an appointment online today.
Diabetes Q&A
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by an inability to efficiently convert food into energy. To understand diabetes, it helps to think about how this process works.
Every time you eat, your body converts much of that food into glucose, a type of sugar. Glucose needs to enter your cells to deliver nourishment, but a special hormone called insulin is required to gain access to each cell. People with diabetes either don’t produce enough insulin or cannot make proper use of the insulin they do produce.
What are the types of diabetes?
Diabetes is classified into two primary types: Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 1 diabetes
Researchers are unsure of the exact cause of Type 1 diabetes, which is marked by an immune system malfunction that causes your body to mistakenly destroy the cells in your pancreas that create insulin. Without treatment, Type 1 diabetes is fatal.
Type 2 diabetes
This is the most common type of diabetes, and it’s also called adult-onset diabetes, although a growing number of children are diagnosed each year. Type 2 diabetes is linked to lifestyle factors, especially obesity. This form of the disease requires careful and skilled management to preserve health.
Some women develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy, which usually resolves after childbirth. Those women carry an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes for the rest of their lives.
Why is diabetes dangerous to my health?
Diabetes causes excess glucose in your bloodstream. That places undue pressure on organs and systems throughout your body. Some of the health risks associated with diabetes include:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Kidney damage
- Eye health problems
- Nerve damage
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Depression
- Skin problems
- Sexual dysfunction
- Foot damage
This is far from a comprehensive list. Diabetes affects virtually all aspects of your health and wellness.
How is diabetes treated?
Treating diabetes is a process of management. In some cases, supplemental insulin injections are the central treatment focus. Monitoring your blood sugar should become part of your daily routine.
There are also a number of medications that can help control your blood sugar. Some change the way your liver releases glucose, while others stimulate your pancreas to produce more insulin. There are even drugs that alter your digestive system to make it easier for glucose to enter your cells.
Lifestyle modification can also play a huge role in treating diabetes. Dr. Kodumagulla works with you to develop meaningful changes in your diet and exercise habits through the weight loss program at Wake Family Medicine.
Dr. Kodumagulla continues to do clinical research on diabetes, so she is always informed on the latest treatment advancements.
If you have questions or concerns about diabetes, schedule an appointment online or by phone today to get started on a path toward improved health.
